Butcher'd

Clippard is a role player. Relievers are in the bullpen for a reason. Even the really good ones don't have crazy good value.

 

It's hard to find a good SS. Escobar is a pretty decent one. Their value is pretty much equal. 

 

You're not going to have above average players at every position. Do you even realize the difference between an average player and a replacement level player? The difference of having someone like Grant Green(0-0.5 WAR) start over David Freese(1.5-2.5 WAR) can be worth multiple wins. If you have this same problem at multiple positions, it can really cost you. 

 

As far as WAR hate goes, I haven't seen you bring up any stats to back up your opinion. If you have something substantial to add, feel free to do so. 

You acknowledge that Clippard is an above average reliever. You acknowledge Escobar is an average player

You know my opinion on this

I'm more interested in having above average players. Like Clippard for example.

People underrate average players? I'm pretty sure that's impossible to do unless you have a completely different definition for average than I do. Average is not good...they're just...there

Ur trying to use WAR to compare players that play completely different positions and it just doesn't work. That stat has flaws, especially the pitching metric

You guys would rather have a league average SS that's a head case over a rock solid reliever every year of his career?

Can't agree there. A's stole Clippard IMO

I consider myself a casual fan. I went from season seats in the early 2000's to slowly just a handful of games a year and have no plans to go to any games this year outside the random games with friends.

I'm next to the stadium now, but every game I went to last year I got home between around 11:30. That's just not feasible on a random Tuesday night. We left every game early because it was hitting close to 11pm. Add the fact if we stayed and had to deal with the exiting traffic, no thanks.

Can't blame you for leaving early. I live in the San Fernando valley so if I go to a game I usually get back at around midnight if I stay the whole game. Haven't been able to go to many weekday games because of it

He IS 2nd best

of all time

How many people do you literally know that have stopped watching games because of how long the games are? Not friends of friends, but people you literally know, who have literally stopped watching games because of the length.

My brother was a  fan for years and has now stopped watching baseball because of how long it takes in between pitches...can't say I blame him when I watch a fast paced sport like hockey in comparison. I love baseball and will never stop watching but for the casual young fan, why would you want to watch baseball when most of the time the batters are scratching their balls and adjusting their gloves?

I am just saying that the longer these games take, the more it's going to drive away young fans. I get that there is no clock in baseball and that's what 'makes it great', but no one wants to watch a 3 and a half hour game when it can easily be reduced to 2 hours and 25 minutes if the umps would enforce the rule book

It's about ****ing time.

They're literally losing fans because of how long these games take. It's best for everybody involved to pick up the pace. There is a rule about the time in between pitches. It needs to be enforced.

Fantastic trade by Beane here

Rogie may have had an even bigger impact as GM than he did as a goalie. 

Good point

I'm not that big on Shields but if you can get him for 4/70 I think you do it.

Richards

Shields

Weaver

Shoemaker

Heaney

Would be a good rotation with Santiago and Tropeano providing depth

This is so obviously a troll thread, but I'll play along anyway:

1) Never bunt on a 3-1 count

2) Even if he got it down they would have pitched around our best hitter (Trout)

3) Giving up an out is mathematically proven to reduce your chance of scoring

Horrible decision that may have cost us a playoff game.

JS Giguere>>Rogie Vachon IMO

In terms of what they accomplished with the Kings and the Ducks respectively

The 2014 Angels weren't even supposed to win 81.

Yes they were. 170 million dollar payroll. The Angels (now) are always expected to finish over .500. It's been that way since about 2004.

I do like the fact that Perez is Latin ... they make for good catchers.

crossing fingers

I could be wrong here, but it seems like there is a line you're very close to crossing over with this post

Anyone expecting anything more than .220/.280/.350 production out of Perez is setting themselves up for disappointment.

Conger is just as bad though, so picking up Tropeano was a good move

I still don't get why Jedi gets a free pass for replacing Haren and Santana with Blanton and Hanson. That pretty much killed an entire season. 

Ummm he didn't/doesn't get a free pass for that. He got killed on this board by many respected posters because of those moves.

But at a certain point people recognize that that's in the past and the moves he's making currently give us the best chance to succeed.

Pujols' contract is God awful. So is Hamilton's. No getting around it. 

Dipoto and Arte are both counting down the years until those deals are over

Rasmus for Downs

Iannetta for Chatwood

Street deal

Joe Smith Signing

Restocking the farm system (Newcombe, Gatto, Baldoquin, Heaney, Kubitza etc.)

Dipoto has certainly done more good than bad. Arte needed to stop getting involved, and it looks like he has the last year and a half. No surprise that things have gotten better for this team since

I'm excited about this kid. He really seems to recognize breaking stuff early. He can be really good if he grows into his power a little. I'm thinking .260/.350/.440 annually from him. Above average 3B

Love it. Sanchez is a big risk for the Braves. Upside, but risky.

Kubitza gets on base and is versatile. They needed someone like this in the worst way. Now we have Baldoquin, Kubitza, Featherston, Yarbrough, Green, etc as options for 3B/2B spots.

Moncada would still be nice but I won't hold my breath

I found him very annoying.

But this is tragic. RIP

Weaver could have gotten a 7 year 140 million dollar deal from the Angels and he would have earned every penny (back then he was better than Greinke, Lester, etc were when they signed).

He doesn't care how much people are paid

A lot of you are banking on Bedrosian to be good if (when) someone gets injured.

I'm not so confident about him. I'd feel better if one more veteran arm was acquired by the trade deadline, and Bedrock, Gott, and Reynolds can simmer in AAA

I'd be surprised if Pujols called it quits by then. Would you walk away from 90 million dollars?

.255/.310/.405 12 home runs, 180 strikeouts